Innovation Is More Than Invention
Interview with Janneke van der Kamp, CEO of Norgine B.V.
Bringing a new medicine to patients requires more than scientific discovery and regulatory approval. Across Europe, different healthcare systems, reimbursement procedures and national requirements can delay access to innovative treatments. With a history spanning more than 120 years, Norgine has developed expertise in navigating these complexities. CEO Janneke van der Kamp explains why local knowledge, partnerships and an agile corporate culture are essential to making medicines available to patients.
Europe and Australia are Norgine's main geographic markets. The pharmaceutical company develops and markets its own medicines while also helping international biotech companies bring their innovations to European patients.
Navigating Europe's healthcare systems
“Innovation is more than invention,” says Janneke van der Kamp. Even after a medicine receives approval from the European Medicines Agency (EMA), considerable obstacles remain. Individual countries determine pricing and reimbursement according to their own healthcare systems, medical priorities and economic considerations. These processes can take years.
Germany offers comparatively rapid access, allowing patients to receive newly approved medicines while pricing negotiations continue. In other countries, companies often face lengthy national procedures before treatments become available.
This complexity is central to Norgine's business model. Smaller biotech companies frequently lack the infrastructure and local expertise to enter numerous European markets independently. Norgine therefore licenses medicines for the European market and manages the subsequent commercialization process. Its expertise extends beyond regulatory requirements to local languages, healthcare structures and relationships with medical professionals.
Rare diseases present additional challenges. Patients may struggle to obtain a diagnosis or reach specialists familiar with their condition. Norgine works with physicians and patient organizations to raise awareness and help patients navigate healthcare systems. Clinical development is equally demanding when only a small number of patients are available for trials. Regulators, healthcare professionals and pharmaceutical companies must therefore work together to establish appropriate evidence requirements.
Growth through partnerships and people
Norgine intends to strengthen its role as a European partner for companies developing innovative medicines. While maintaining its own research and development activities, particularly in gastrointestinal medicine, the company sees partnerships as a key driver of future growth.
With approximately 1,500 employees, Norgine occupies a distinct position within the pharmaceutical industry. According to Janneke van der Kamp, its size allows the company to combine the expertise needed to operate across multiple markets with the flexibility of a midsize organization.
She describes her leadership philosophy as an inverted pyramid. Employees involved in manufacturing or working directly with healthcare systems are at the top, while management supports their work. This approach emphasizes individual responsibility and the opportunity to make a tangible contribution.
Since becoming CEO, Janneke van der Kamp has helped drive a cultural transformation. Norgine has also been recognized among the top 100 organizations in the Global Inspiring Workplaces Awards. Having previously worked for much larger pharmaceutical companies, she particularly values the speed of decision-making and the opportunity to work closely with colleagues across different countries. For her, the ability to make a visible difference is a major source of motivation. It is also central to the culture Norgine wants to maintain as it grows.